Noor Jehan Biography SongsNoor Jehan – Biography of the Melody Queen of South Asia
Real Name: Allah Rakhi Wasai
Stage Name: Noor Jehan
Date of Birth: 21 September 1926
Place of Birth: Kasur, British India
Date of Death: 23 December 2000
Age at Death: 74 years
Resting Place: Gizri Graveyard, Karachi, Pakistan
Father: Imdad Ali
Mother: Fateh Bibi
Noor Jehan’s Marriages and Children
- First Husband:Syed Shaukat Hussain Rizvi (m. 1941 – div. 1953)
- Children: 3
- Second Husband:Ejaz Durrani (m. 1959 – div. 1971)
- Children: 3
- Reportedly also married actor Yousuf Khan
Early Life and Musical Training
Noor Jehan began singing at the age of six, receiving classical music training from Ustad Ghulam Mohammad and Kajjan Bai. Her early performances in Lahore and Calcutta gained attention, especially her song “Langh Aja Patan Chanaan Da” in the film Pind di Kuri (1935).
Career in British India
- Rose to fame with the hit film Khandaan (1942)
- Moved to Bombay and starred in popular films like:
- Anmol Ghadi (1946)
- Jugnu (1947)
- Married director Shaukat Hussain Rizvi during this time
Career in Pakistan
After the partition in 1947, Noor Jehan moved to Pakistan and settled in Karachi.
- Starred in Chan Wey (1951) – Pakistan’s first female-directed film
- Dupatta (1952) – one of the earliest blockbusters in Pakistan
- Retired from acting after Ghalib (1961)
Playback Singing Legend
From the 1960s onward, Noor Jehan became Pakistan’s most celebrated playback singer.
- Known for her duets with Ahmed Rushdi, Mehdi Hassan, Ghulam Ali, and others
- Her iconic song “Mujhse Pehli Si Mohabbat Mere Mehboob Na Maang” from Qaidi (1962) remains timeless
- Contributed thousands of songs to Pakistani cinema in Urdu, Punjabi, and Sindhi
Death and Legacy
Noor Jehan suffered from chronic kidney disease and angina in her final years. She passed away due to heart failure on 23 December 2000 in Karachi. Over 400,000 people attended her funeral, reflecting her immense legacy and public love.
Awards and Achievements
- 🏅 Pride of Performance (1965)
- 🏆 Sitara-e-Imtiaz (1996)
- 🎥 PTV Lifetime Achievement Award (1998)
- 🏆 Multiple Nigar Awards for Best Singer and Actress
- 🎨 Google Doodle Tribute on her 91st birthday in 2017
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What was Noor Jehan’s real name?
Allah Rakhi Wasai.
Q2: How did Noor Jehan start her singing career?
She began singing at age six, trained in classical music, and debuted in films in the 1930s.
Q3: Why is Noor Jehan called ‘Malika-e-Tarannum’?
The title means “Queen of Melody,” honoring her unmatched voice and contribution to South Asian music.
Q4: How many songs did Noor Jehan sing?
She recorded over 10,000 songs in various languages.
Q5: When and how did Noor Jehan die?
She passed away on 23 December 2000 due to heart failure.
